Polk County WDNR Aquatic Invasive Species Countywide ...A1D2EAAA...9 Purple Loosestrife Purple loosestrife is an aquatic invasive perennial plant that grows 3-7 feet tall and develops

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Polk County WDNR Aquatic Invasive Species Countywide Education,

Prevention, and Planning Control Grant Final Report, AEPP-429-14,

2014-2015

Polk County Land and Water Resources Department

100 Polk County Plaza, Ste 120

Balsam Lake, WI 54810

Balsam Lake, 2014

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In April 2014, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department received a two year Aquatic

Invasive Species Education, Prevention, and Planning Control Grant from the Wisconsin Department of

Natural Resources to implement a countywide AIS program. The following report details the tasks

completed from April 2014 through December 2015.

Largon Lake, 2014

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Eurasian Water Milfoil Eurasian water milfoil is a submerged aquatic invasive plant with delicate, feather-like leaves arranged in

a whorl around the stem of the plant. Eurasian water milfoil can be distinguished from native milfoils by

the numerous (usually 12-21) leaflets that make up each leaf. Additionally, whereas the leaves of most

native milfoils remain erect when out of water, the leaves of Eurasian water milfoil are usually limp

when out of water. Eurasian water milfoil is highly invasive and is capable of forming large, thick mats

which interfere with swimming, boating, fishing, and waterfowl hunting. Additionally, Eurasian water

milfoil can have devastating effects on native ecosystems, displacing native aquatic plants and impacting

fish and wildlife populations.

Eurasian water milfoil was first discovered in North America in the 1940’s. Since this time Eurasian

water milfoil has invaded nearly every state in the United States. Eurasian water milfoil spreads when

small fragments of the plant break off and float on water currents or are transported by boater traffic.

Eurasian water milfoil is able to reproduce from small fragments, which sprout roots and are able to

colonize new areas.

Establishment of Eurasian water milfoil populations in Polk County has occurred relatively recently.

Eurasian water milfoil was first found in Polk County in Long Trade Lake in 1995. Long Trade Lake is part

of the Trade River System, which includes Little Trade Lake, Big Trade Lake, and Round Lake in Burnett

County. Eurasian water milfoil was discovered in Round Lake in 2003 and in Little Trade Lake in 2009. In

addition to the Trade River System, Eurasian water milfoil was found in Horseshoe Lake in 2006, in Pike

Lake in 2010, in the St. Croix River between Spanglers Landing and Lions Park Landing in 2013, and in

Cedar Lake in 2015.

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Eurasian water milfoil has been documented on 5 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015: Cedar Lake,

Horseshoe Lake, Long Trade Lake, Pike Lake, and the St. Croix River

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St. Croix River Eurasian Water Milfoil Monitoring In 2013, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department discovered Eurasian water milfoil in the

St. Croix River between Spanglers Landing and the hydroelectric dam in St. Croix Falls. In partnership

with the National Park Service and St. Croix River Association, the Land and Water Resources

Department initiated efforts to address this species in 2014 and 2015.

In both 2014 and 2015, water levels on the St. Croix River were lowered for dam maintenance. As a

result, most sites with Eurasian water milfoil were above the water with the exception of a few large

bays with tributaries flowing to the St. Croix River.

In 2014, volunteer opportunities to hand pull Eurasian water milfoil were organized to take advantage of

the fact that most plants were above the water line and more easily accessible.

On June 25th, 2014 six National Park Service staff and Polk County Land and Water Resources

Department staff meandered the littoral area of the river in search of Eurasian watermilfoil between

Spanglers Landing and Lions Park Landing. This opportunity allowed for staff to learn background

information on Eurasian water milfoil, how to identify the species, and the history of the species in the

St. Croix River.

On June 26th, 2014 four young adults with the St. Croix Tribal Youth Program and two volunteers

assisted Land and Water Resources Department, National Park Service, and St. Croix River Association

staff in an effort to hand pull Eurasian water milfoil. This opportunity also included an educational

component as volunteers received information on how to identify Eurasian water milfoil, the history of

the species on the river, and general background information on aquatic invasive species.

St. Croix River Eurasian water milfoil, 2014

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Additionally, on the afternoon of June 26th, nine members of the St. Croix Basin Team surveyed the

littoral area of the river from Nevers Dam Landing to Spanglers Landing for Eurasian water milfoil.

Fortunately, milfoil was not found in this section of the river.

In an effort to reassess the efforts from 2014 and to

determine if the Eurasian water milfoil had spread

within the St. Croix River, Land and Water Resources

Department in partnership with National Park Service

surveyed the littoral zone of the entire river in 2015.

Fortunately, Eurasian water milfoil was not found

outside the area between Spanglers Landing and the

hydroelectric dam.

With low water levels in 2014 and 2015, the existing

populations of Eurasian water milfoil were

substantially reduced. In the map (right), the 2013

sites represent beds of plants; whereas, the 2015 sites

represent individual plants.

In collaboration with the National Park Service, it was

determined that with the 2015 drawdown scheduled

to last through December, it was not a good use of

resources to hand pull Eurasian water milfoil in 2015.

St. Croix River, June 26th, 2014 Eurasian water milfoil hand pulling event

St. Croix River Eurasian water milfoil locations, 2013 and 2015

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Curly Leaf Pondweed Curly leaf pondweed is a submerged aquatic invasive plant. The leaves of curly leaf pondweed are

easily distinguished by their rounded tip, prominent mid-vein, and finely toothed edges. In certain

growing conditions, the leaves appear wavy or crimped.

Curly leaf pondweed is found in a wide variety of habitats, although it prefers alkaline and high nutrient

waterbodies and typically grows in less than 3 meters of water.

This invasive species is able to outcompete native aquatic plants because it exhibits rapid growth in the

early spring, sometimes growing beneath ice cover. Curly leaf pondweed forms large, dense mats on

the surface of waterbodies inhibiting the light necessary for native plant growth and interfering with

navigation and recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming.

Curly leaf pondweed was first discovered in Polk County in the Apple River Flowage in 1977. As of

December 2013, curly leaf pondweed was documented in 38 waterbodies in Polk County. The Polk

County Land and Water Resources Department documented the species in four additional waterbodies

in 2014-2015: McKenzie Lake, Little Blake Lake, Long Lake, and South Twin Lake.

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Curly leaf pondweed has been documented on 42 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including:

Alabama Lake, Apple River, Apple River Flowage, Balsam Lake, Bear Trap Lake, Big Blake Lake, Big Butternut Lake,

Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook Flowage, Bone Lake (2454500), Bone Lake (2628100), Bridget Lake, Cedar

Lake, Clam Falls Flowage, Deer Lake (2619400), Deer Lake (2460500), Dwight Lake, Half Moon Lake, Herby Lake,

Horse Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Lake O’ the Dalles, Little Blake Lake, Little Butternut Lake, Little Mirror Lake, Long

Lake, Long Trade Lake, Loveless Lake, Magnor Lake, McKenzie Lake, North Twin Lake, North White Ash Lake, Pike

Lake, Pine Lake (2490400), Sand Lake, Sandhill Lake, South Twin Lake, Staples Lake, Unnamed (2658800),

Wapogasset Lake, and White Ash Lake

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Purple Loosestrife Purple loosestrife is an aquatic invasive perennial plant that grows 3-7 feet tall and develops a spike of

small purple flowers in late summer. The leaves of the plant are oblong and arranged oppositely along a

square shaped stem. Purple loosestrife spreads rapidly and colonizes wetlands, shorelines, and roadside

ditches. Thick stands of purple loosestrife crowd out native vegetation and reduce food, shelter, and

nesting sites for a variety of wildlife including birds, turtles, and frogs.

This plant, native to Europe and Asia, was introduced in North America in the 1800’s for beekeeping and

as a garden ornamental. Purple loosestrife has been present in Polk County for many years. An

elaborate inventory was conducted in 2000 by Polk County LWRD to identify the extent of purple

loosestrife in the county and to reduce its spread.

In 2014 and 2015 the Polk County Land and Water Resource Department assisted volunteers in raising

and releasing Galerucella beetles. In both years, the beetles were released on Balsam Lake. In the

future, Polk County Land and Water Resources Department will be working with the Lotus Lake

Association to raise and release beetles due to an expanding population of loosestrife along the

shoreline.

As of December, 2013 purple loosestrife was documented on 8 Polk County waterbodies. The Polk

County Land and Water Resources Department documented the species in one additional waterbody in

2014-2015: the Apple River Flowage.

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Purple loosestrife has been documented on 9 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including: the Apple

River Flowage, Balsam Lake, Big Lake, Grimhs Lake, Lotus Lake, North Twin Lake, North White Ash Lake, Silver Lake,

and White Ash Lake

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Japanese and Giant Knotweed Japanese and giant knotweed are native to Asia and were imported to the United States in the mid

1900’s as ornamental plants, although they are becoming more prevelant in the wild. The plant can

reach up to fifteen feet and is easily distinguished by hollow bamboo-like stalks.

Knotweed is a perennial, meaning that each spring it re-grows from an extensive root system. Both species

grow extremely fast and form a dense canopy of foliage which blocks sunlight from reaching the ground. As

a result, native vegetation is unable to grow beneath a knotweed stand. When knotweed establishes on

stream banks, the lack of understory can promote intense erosion causing soil and knotweed roots to move

downstream.

Knotweed was first discovered in Polk County in 2009. In 2012 and 2013 knotweed control measures were

conducted by Polk County LWRD under an early detection and response grant. As of December 2013,

knotweed was documented at 93 sites in Polk County and on 7 waterbodies. The Polk County Land and

Water Resources Department documented knotweed at seven additional sites in 2014-2015.

In both 2014 and 2015, Polk County LWRD provided control guidance to numerous landowners on Cedar

Lake. Additionally, six sites were treated during the 2015 season for follow up control. LWRD attempted to

contact the Mark Renz Lab to complete knotweed seed viability tests; however, the lab never responded.

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Knotweed has been documented on 9 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including: the Apple River

Flowage, Balsam Lake, Big Lake, Cedar Lake, Hatchet Lake, Little Butternut Lake, the St. Croix River, Unnamed

pond, and Wapogasset Lake

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Chinese Mystery Snails Chinese mystery snails were imported to the west coast in the late 1800’s as a food source for the Asian

market and have spread via aquarium release and other accidental and intentional introductions. When

introduced to a new water body, the Chinese mystery snail alters the ecosystem composition, structure,

and function by competing with native snails for food and space.

Populations of Chinese mystery snails are now established in many Northern Wisconsin lakes. As of

December 2013, Chinese mystery snails were documented on 35 Polk County waterbodies. The Polk

County Land and Water Resources Department documented the species in three additional waterbodies

in 2014-2015: Big Round Lake, Largon Lake, and Little Blake Lake.

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Chinese mystery snails have been documented on 38 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including:

Antler Lake, Apple River, Balsam Lake, Bear Trap Lake, Big Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook

Flowage, Bone Lake, Camelia Lake, Cedar Lake, Church Pine Lake, Clam Falls Flowage, Clear Lake, Deer Lake, Half

Moon Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Largon Lake, Little Blake Lake, Lower Pine Lake, Magnor Lake, McKenzie Lake, Middle

Pine Lake, North Pipe Lake, North Twin Lake, North White Ash Lake, Pike Lake, Pine Lake, Pipe Lake, Sand Lake,

Sandhill Lake, Silver Lake, South Twin Lake, Staples Lake, Swede Lake, Wapogasset Lake, Ward Lake, and White Ash

Lake

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Banded Mystery Snails Banded mystery snails are native to the southeastern United States, being found primarily in the

Mississippi River System up to Illinois. This invasive snail species is popular in the aquarium trade which

likely explains it’s presence outside its native range. Besides causing aesthetic problems, banded

mystery snails can cause mortality of largemouth bass embryos if nests are invaded.

The banded mystery snail is easily distinguished by the presence of reddish bands which are arranged

parallel to the whorl of the shell.

Banded mystery snails were first documented in Polk County in 2003 in Half Moon Lake. Although their

spread had continued, they are still much less common in Polk County as compared with the Chinese

mystery snail and had been documented on only 10 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2013.

The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department documented the species in one additional

waterbody in 2014-2015: Big Round Lake.

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Banded mystery snails have been documented on 11 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including: Big

Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook Flowage, Bone Lake (2454400), Bone Lake (2628100), Half Moon

Lake, Magnor Lake, North Pipe Lake, North White Ash Lake, and Staples Lake

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Rusty Crayfish Rusty crayfish are invasive crustaceans that can have profound impacts on lakes, rivers, and streams.

They are more aggressive than native crayfish and are better able to avoid predation than native

crayfish. Rusty crayfish can also harm native fish populations by eating their eggs and young.

Rusty crayfish have been documented on 10 Polk County waterbodies as of December, 2015 including: Apple River,

Balsam Branch, Fox Creek, Half Moon Lake, Osceola Creek, St. Croix River, Trade River, Wapogasset Lake, Willow

River, and Wood River

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Phragmites Phragmites is a wetland grass that invades moist habitats, although it can tolerate dry conditions. It can

grow from 3-20 feet in height and has dull, rigid, hollow stems.

Phragmites has not been documented in Polk County. Phragmites was previously misidentified on Lotus

and McKenzie Lake. Both sites were revisited and confirmed as native phragmites.

Zebra Mussels Zebra mussels are aquatic invasive mussels with a D-shaped shell exhibiting alternating black and white

stripes. Since they are able to attach to hard surfaces, zebra mussels can clog water intakes and damage

equipment such as boat motors. When water bodies are infested with zebra mussels their shorelines

become littered with sharp shells, impeding human recreational opportunities. Additionally, zebra

mussels damage ecosystems by harming fisheries and smothering native mussels, snails, and crayfish.

Zebra mussels arrived in the Great Lakes in the late 1980’s from contaminated ballast water. Since that

time they have expanded in range via the Mississippi River. Zebra mussels have not been found in Polk

County; however, in 2010 they were discovered in Bass Lake in St. Croix County.

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AIS Early Detection Smart Prevention Protocol The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department partnered with the WDNR to implement the

statewide AIS early detection smart prevention protocol on Polk County Lakes. This study began in 2011

and concluded in 2015.

The protocol includes the collection of basic water quality data (secchi depth and conductivity) along

with numerous detection methods for aquatic invasive species:

Thirty minute snorkel searches at all boat landings

Ten minute snorkel searches at five sites

Three spiny water flea tows

Three zebra mussel veliger tows

Rake throws and D-nets while completing a shoreline meander

Lakes monitored in 2014 include:

Apple River Flowage

Balsam Lake

Big Round Lake

Church Pine Lake

King Lake

Largon Lake

Lower Pine Lake

Pipe Lake

Wapogasset Lake

Lakes monitored in 2015 include:

Half Moon Lake

Herby Lake

Little Blake Lake

Lower Pine Lake (revisit lake)

Pickerel (Crescent) Lake

South Twin Lake

Swede Lake

Data for secchi depth, conductivity, and GIS location of AIS populations was entered into the Surface

Water Integrated Monitoring System (SWIMS). Aquatic plant specimens were sent to the UW-Stevens

Point Herbarium, waterflea and veliger samples were sent to the Wisconsin DNR, and snail specimens

were sent to the UW-La Crosse Biology Department.

Under previous aquatic invasive species grants, LWRD implemented the protocol on an additional nine

lakes in 2011, seven lakes in 2012, and three lakes in 2013.

Apple River Flowage, purple loosestrife, 2014

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In total since 2011, thirty-three Polk County Lakes have been monitored for AIS with the early detection

smart prevention protocol. Additionally, Big Blake Lake and Lower Pine Lake were chosen as revisit lakes

and monitored twice. The number of invasive species per lake ranged from zero to four. Fifteen

percent of lakes sampled (n=5) had zero invasive species present, 36% of lakes (n=12) had one invasive

species present, 30% of lakes (n=10) had two invasive species present, 15% of lakes (n=5) had three

invasive species present, and 3% of lakes (n=1) had four invasive species present.

Species detected through the protocol include: Japanese knotweed, banded mystery snail, purple

loosestrife, curly leaf pondweed, and Chinese mystery snail. Japanese knotweed was detected in only

6% of lakes sampled (n=2), banded mystery snail was detected in only 9% of lakes sampled (n=3), and

purple loosestrife was detected in 21% of lakes sampled (n=7). Curly leaf pondweed was found in nearly

half of the lakes sampled (45%, n=15) and Chinese mystery snails were found in nearly three-quarters of

lakes sampled (73%, n=24).

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Number of invasive species found per lake

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AIS early detection smart prevention protocol lakes, 2011-2015

Antler Lake, Apple River Flowage, Balsam Lake, Big Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook Flowage,

Camelia Lake, Church Pine Lake, Clam Falls Flowage, Coon Lake, Half Moon Lake, Herby Lake, King Lake, Lake O’ the

Dalles, Largon Lake, Little Blake Lake, Lotus Lake, Lower Pine Lake, McKenzie Lake, North Twin Lake, North White

Ash Lake, Pickerel Lake, Pine Lake, Pipe Lake, Rice Lake, Sand Lake, South Twin Lake, Swede Lake, Vincent Lake,

Wapogasset Lake, Ward Lake, White Ash Lake

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Number of aquatic invasive species found per lake


Lakes with 0 AIS: Coon Lake, King Lake, Pickerel Lake, Rice Lake, Vincent Lake

Lakes with 1 AIS: Antler Lake, Camelia Lake, Church Pine Lake, Herby Lake, Lake O’ the Dalles, Largon Lake, Lotus

Lake, Lower Pine Lake, McKenzie Lake, Pipe Lake, Swede Lake, Ward Lake

Lakes with 2 AIS: Apple River Flowage, Black Brook Flowage, Clam Falls Flowage, Little Blake Lake, North Twin Lake,

North White Ash Lake, Pine Lake, Sand Lake, South Twin Lake, White Ash Lake

Lakes with 3 AIS: Big Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Half Moon Lake, Wapogasset Lake

Lakes with 4 AIS: Balsam Lake

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Japanese knotweed


2 Lakes: Balsam Lake, Wapogasset Lake

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Banded mystery snail


3 Lakes: Big Blake Lake, Big Round Lake, Half Moon Lake

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Purple loosestrife


7 Lakes: Apple River Flowage, Balsam Lake, Big Lake, Lotus Lake, North Twin Lake, North White Ash Lake, White

Ash Lake

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Curly leaf pondweed


15 Lakes: Apple River Flowage, Balsam Lake, Big Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook Flowage, Clam

Falls Flowage, Half Moon Lake, Herby Lake, Lake O’ the Dalles, Little Blake Lake, Pine Lake, Sand Lake, South Twin

Lake, Wapogasset Lake

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Chinese mystery snail


24 Lakes: Antler Lake, Balsam Lake, Big Blake Lake, Big Lake, Big Round Lake, Black Brook Flowage, Camelia Lake,

Church Pine Lake, Clam Falls Flowage, Half Moon Lake, Largon Lake, Little Blake Lake, Lower Pine Lake, McKenzie

Lake, North Twin Lake, North White Ash Lake, Pine Lake, Pipe Lake, Sand Lake, South Twin Lake, Swede Lake,

Wapogasset Lake, Ward Lake, White Ash Lake

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Clean Boats, Clean Waters The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department provided countywide Clean Boats, Clean

Waters trainings in both 2014 and 2015. Both trainings were held prior to the fishing opener and were

attended by eight and thirteen individuals, respectively. In 2014 an individualized training for the Balsam

Lake and Long Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Districts was attended by ten volunteers and in 2015

an individualized training for the Balsam Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District was attended by five

volunteers. Individualized trainings were also held for the Apple River Flowage and Big Round Lake in

2014 and Big Round Lake in 2015. Template presentations were edited to include local AIS locations and

concerns. Materials can be found in Appendix A.

Landing Blitz In 2014 and 2015, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department assisted in organizing the

Landing Blitz by providing information to all lake organizations in Polk County and gathering participant

information. Both years LWRD wrote a press release promoting the event and served as a pick up site

for towels and educational materials. Seventeen waterbodies participated in the Landing Blitz in 2014

and ten participated in 2015.

Drain Campaign In 2014 and 2015, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department promoted the Drain

Campaign to local lake organizations and signed lakes up for this statewide initiative. LWRD also

authored a press release to promote the event, served as a pick up site for ice packs, and ordered the

free flyers and educational brochures for each participating lake. In total, seventeen lakes participated

in the Drain Campaign in 2014 and sixteen lakes and rivers participated in 2015.

Fall Snapshot Day In 2014, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department partnered with the St. Croix River

Association to offer the Fall Snapshot Day in Polk County. Four volunteers attended the training and

monitored four sites: Apple River at the Apple River County Park, Balsam Branch at DD Kennedy

Environmental Area, Big Rock Creek at Big Rock Creek Farm, and Osceola Creek at Osceola Road. The

Balsam and Long Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Clean Boats, Clean Waters training, 2014

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only invasive species found was curly leaf pondweed at the Balsam Branch site. LWRD also served on

the statewide planning committee for the 2015 event. Although the event was planned for 2015, it was

cancelled due to low registration. Materials can be found in Appendix B.

AIS Citizen Lake Monitoring Network An AIS Citizen Lake Monitoring Network training was offered by the Polk County Land and Water

Resources Department in 2014 and 2015. The 2014 training was attended by twenty-nine volunteers

and the 2015 training was attended by eight volunteers. Both trainings included a hands-on session to

view specimens of AIS with a focus on native as well and invasive plants. Template presentations were

edited to include local AIS locations and concerns. The St. Croix River Association assisted with the 2015

training. As a result of the training, volunteers from Long Lake brought in a specimen of curly leaf

pondweed. The specimen was vouchered. Materials can be found in Appendix C.

Project RED The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department partnered with the St. Croix River Association,

the National Park Service, and the River Alliance to offer Project RED trainings in 2014 and 2015. Twelve

volunteers attended the training in 2014 and ten volunteers attended the training in 2015. Two

volunteers returned two datasheets in 2014 and two volunteers returned thirteen data sheets in 2015.

Data was entered into SWIMS. Template presentations were edited to include local AIS locations and

concerns. Materials can be found in Appendix D.

Education and Outreach Polk County Land and Water Resources Department delivered AIS education and outreach at numerous

events and meetings for a variety of audiences. Materials can be found in Appendix E.

Earth Day Celebration for all Polk County schools, 2014

Governors Fishing Opener, 2014

Clayton High School, 2014

Horseshoe Lake Education Fair, 2014

Bone Lake Annual Meeting, 2014

Polk County Fair, 2014 and 2015

Luck School 3rd grade, 2014 and 2015

Bi-weekly radio program, 2014 and 2015

Osceola School 4th grade, 2014 and 2015

Balsam Lake Dockside newsletter, 2014 and 2015

DNR press release templates to local papers, 2014 and 2015

West Denmark Family Camp, 2015

St. Croix Falls 5th grade, 2015

Balsam Lake Annual Meeting, 2015

Balsam Lake/Milltown Library, 2015

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Lake Maps In 2014, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department assisted the Polk County Association of

Lakes and Rivers with a reprint of customized waterproof AIS lake maps. Four lake organizations

reprinted maps and one organization paid for a map to be designed for their lake.

AIS Signs Lakes that were visited were checked for WDNR AIS signs at the boat landings. An AIS sign was installed

at Largon Lake.

Augmented Enforcement In 2014, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department worked with the Polk County Sheriff’s

Department to organize augmented enforcement of the Balsam Lake Boat Landing during their annual

town festival. However, due to arising priorities, deputies were unable to provide augmented

enforcement.

In 2015, the Polk County Land and Water Resources Department and St. Croix River Association worked

with the WDNR Water Guard to provide augmented enforcement at two area boat landings over two

weekends in July. The area water guard was at Garfield Park on Lake Wapogasset and Lions Park

Landing on the St. Croix River with a decontamination unit. Both opportunities were paired with local

Clean Boats, Clean Waters programs and the Lake Wapogasset project included a partnership with the

Lake District, Lake Association, and Town of Garfield. LWRD was the project lead for the Lake

Wapogasset project and the St. Croix River Association was the project lead for the St. Croix River

project.

WDNR Water Guard Ashely Dooley and Lake Wapogasset Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer Rick Bazille, 2015

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AIS Trainings Polk County Land and Water Resources Department staff attended all WDNR AIS trainings in 2014 and

2015 including spring and fall AIS coordinator meetings and a regional AIS rapid response exercise and

coordinator meeting. Staff also attended all train-the-trainer workshops for programs such as Clean

Boats, Clean Waters and the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network.

Polk County Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan Up until 2015, Polk County did not have an aquatic invasive species strategic plan. Using existing county,

regional, and state aquatic invasive species strategic plans as a template, LWRD drafted a Polk County

Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan as a starting point for citizen input.

Two planning meetings were held to develop a strategic plan to prioritize which actions should take

place in Polk County in response to aquatic invasive species. The agenda for the first meeting—held on

May 20th, 2015—included a review of AIS issues, a summary of the draft Polk County Aquatic Invasive

Species Strategic Plan, and an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the goals, objectives, and

actions of the plan. A second meeting—held on June 17th, 2015—provided a review of changes made in

response to the May meeting and also provided an opportunity for additional changes to be made to the

plan. The meeting dates coincided with the dates, times, and places of Polk County Association of Lakes

and Rivers (PCALR) meetings, with the second meeting taking place directly preceding the 2015 Annual

Meeting of the organization.

The meetings were publicized in the Polk County Leader, through press releases submitted to all Polk

County papers, through the Polk County Association of Lakes and Rivers email list, and through direct

emails to stakeholders. Once the plan was finalized, it was opened to a 30 day public comment period

ending on Friday, July 31st, 2015. Notice of taking public comment was posted in the Polk County

Government Center, the Polk County Justice Center, the Village of Balsam Lake Municipal Building, and

as a two week ad in the Polk County Leader. The plan was approved by the Polk County Conservation,

Development, Recreation, and Education Committee on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2015; by the Polk

County Board of Supervisors on September 15th, 2015; and by the Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources on October 5th, 2015.

While creating this plan, citizens determined that progress on the plan should be reviewed and updated

on an annual basis. Likely, this review will take place in conjunction with PCALR meetings.

Materials can be found in Appendix F.

Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan Polk County Land and Water Resources Department also participated in the AIS Work Group lead by the

St. Croix River Association to develop a St. Croix Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Strategic Plan.

Polk County WDNR Aquatic Invasive Species Countywide ...A1D2EAAA...9 Purple Loosestrife Purple loosestrife is an aquatic invasive perennial plant that grows 3-7 feet tall and develops

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